The Washington critic., 1887-09-24
Rsrc and Curions Plants at the
Botanical Gsrdan.
NOVELTIES IN FLOWERS.
Tho Tros OF knowledge, Dutchman's
Pipe, Fiy-Trap, Dynamite Plant
and Other Wonders of
Vegetation.

uHuuals hre uelnB perfected anl tne
various ways In which Dame Nature
provides for next years flowers are
now seen al their best.
Many new plants. or new varieties OF
old ones, have been added. One very
handsome flower which has never been
seen here before IL tho
"DUTCHuAN's PIPE"
scientifically known as the Ari'
Toloehie, a native OF Brazil. Tho vino
has been in the gardens two year. but
IT has never bad any flowers on It he
fore this summer The blossoms hang
down from the stem and are shapul
somewhat Ike a pipe, havlng large
bell-shsped opening at the top; the IN.
side beautifully marked with dark
brown on a light BACKGROUND. Iti5 n
beautiful as well Us rare and peculiar
flower.
Mr.. Smith, the superintendent OF
the gardens, has rather made spc
cialty OF inscctlyorous plants, and the
collection OF these curious anomalies
which seem to inyaas the animal kim
dom In feeding on insects or even
small animals or birds, is very CEN.
plete.
THE PITCHER PLANT.
one Of the most beautiful of this
class OF plants is the East Indian
pitcher plant, otherwise the Nepeattcs.
Though very rare and expensive and
also difficult TO keep alive after they
have been obtained, the new collec.
tion at the Botanical Gardens
embraces thirty different varieties.
These specimens are kept In hanging
pots, but in Its native jungle the
pitcher plant depends on trees for sup.
port. The plant has central stalk
suImounted by cluster OF small green
flowers. The flowers are entirely
eclipsed as to beauty by the gorgeous
"pitchers," which are all colors Of the
rainbow. Long, narrow leaves grow
from the central stalk. and from the
tips Of these leaves extend stems on
the ends Of which are the pitchers.
These are shaped like an ordinary
pitcher and are covered by q losely
fitting lid. In them is found an
Intoxicating liquid, and when the liquid
is perfected the lid Of the pitcher opens
and the plant is ready for business.
Flies, gnats, bees, etc, attracted by the
odor Of the liquid, enter tho pitchers.
imbibe and become Intoxicated, fall
into the liquid, drown and are sssimi
lated by the plant. On the East India
islands these pitchers have been found
as large as 10 by s inches. aud mice
and humming birds are often caught
In them.
THE MUSICAL PALM.
Another very interesting plant Is the
Musical palm" The one In the
gardens-the only one In the city-ls
but foot or two high, though the height
Of mature plant is six or seven feet.
The trunk is thickly covered with long
slender thorns. When stick Is passed
up and down The trunk OF the tree
these tborns vibratc and emit different
tones, closely resembling those of a
music box. Near the musical palm IA
Consumption plant" 1t lisa broad
leaved plant and is subject to disease
which causes the leaves 10 turn whit
in places, maklng vivid contrast
to the dark green of the healthy pOr.
tions OF the plant.
These gardens also boast Of the most
complete collection OF economic plants
in America. Nearly every plant valu
able for medicinal or other useful pur,
poses which is known Is represented.
TaB TREE or KNowLBDGE.
In one OF the hot houses in the real
Of the large building is specimen OF
the "lree of knowledge OF good and
evil' (Citrus pdradisia), from which
mother Eve Is supposed to have pluckeC
the fatal apple.
THE SAILOR PLANT.
Another interesting addition Ia the
SchiRus Mole, or "Ssilor Plant.
When a piece is broken from 1t aud
thrown In water it moves rapidly
around on the surface In very eccen
tris manner, making circles and quick
darts In all directions. This motion 4
kept up for twenty.four hours, and 4
caused by the explosion of minute
| glands filed with oil, which burst or
contact with the water.
THE "NARYLAND LAGER BEER SALOON.
One OF the most interesting OF thl
native plants is one Mr.. Smith ha
christened the Maryland Lager Bee
Saloon" It Is an insectlvorous p'a1t
somewhat similar to the pitcher plant
except that It grows on the ground IN
stead of in trees; II contains an In
toXicating fluid, whence It's name.
THE FLYTRAP.
The Venus Flytrap" is also al
American insectivorous plant. At the
end of each of the stems are twc
peculiar leaves, which open and shu
ike the halves OF a book. The edges
are supplied with small thorns, ant
upon fly alighting on either Of tn,
sides they quickly close together ani
the fly |. prisoner. The fly is re
tnined two or three weeks, and ther
the trap opens and the carcass falls OuI
Any inorganic substance Is released II
q few hours.
THE FIsu.Hoo CACTUS.
The Mexican "ish hook cactus" 1
also q new arrival. 1t Is covered Will
thorns which are curved and as strou.
as steel. These thorns are used 10
fish hooks by the Mc1lcans.
| Though this IS not the season whGr
orchids are at their best, very tiu
specimen OF the butterfly orchid Is nov
| In bloom.
the DYNAMITE PLANT.
A Dynamite plant is another o
this years curiosities. 1t gets Its nam
from the fact that the seed pods. o
which there are hundreds on elcl
plant, when ripe explode with rGpDr
that can be heard twenty or thirt
PAGES, usually at night,
a BANANA TREE.
In the largest house a banana tree I
now in fruit and there ia fine nea
specimen of the true bread fruit tree
which is very rare.
Though the gardens are OF more IN